Macon — Kendrick coach Sterling Hicks has taken five straight trips to the Class AAA semifinals. None ended the way Saturday's did.

No. 1 Kendrick proved its dominance by wearing down Carrollton for a 79-67 win to cap a perfect 32-0 season and claim the school's first basketball crown. The Cherokees are the only team in the state to finish without a blemish.

"I felt like we had the best team the last five years, but you have to have some luck and breaks go your way," Hicks said. "We had a little bit of luck on our side this time."

For the Kendrick seniors, it was a four-year monkey that they were more than happy to remove from their backs.

"It means so much," said Mukia Myrick, who led the Cherokees with 25 points. "We had been here so many years. I don't have any reason to cry this time."

Carrollton used Kendrick's own weapon —an overpowering press — and sprinted to a 15-8 lead after a 3-pointer by Brittany Wiley. But Kendrick rallied in the second quarter and led 33-30 by halftime.

It was a lead that Kendrick never relinquished, thanks to ample depth and a press that finally took the Trojans (29-3) out of their game. The Trojans cut the lead to 45-42 midway through the third quarter but got no closer, despite a game-high 26 points from Wiley.

"They come at you in waves," Carrollton coach Shon Thomaston. "We tried our best to not let up, but for the first time this season we wore down a little bit."